CARSON – Penn State coach Joe Paterno has been doing this stuff long enough to know that variety will be his biggest ally over the final week of Rose Bowl preparation.

Whether it’s running every trick play in the book during practice or getting some visits from former Nittany Lions star players, Paterno will try to mix things up.

“You have to keep them on a certain level of conditioning; you don’t want to overdo it, you don’t want them getting bored, you don’t want them getting tired,” Paterno said while listing challenges he faces with such a long time between the team’s Nov. 22 season finale and the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

“You want to put one or two little things in there that are going to be a little different so that the other guy you’re playing can’t say, `Hey, this is what they are going to do all the time.’ So there are some things like that that work into it.”

Paterno also wants his troops to be as fit as possible.

“The biggest thing is not to lose who you are, try to get everybody a little bit better, a little bit quicker, and play a little faster and do it without having a bunch of tired, bored guys,” Paterno said.

COMING ALONG

Paterno, 82, four weeks removed from hip replacement surgery, sounds like he might walk the sideline for the Rose Bowl. Paterno performed most of his head coaching duties from the press box this year.

“We’ll see how it goes this week,” said Paterno, who is walking without a cane or crutches, although he spends much of practice in a golf cart. “There hasn’t been enough time for me yet. That jet lag got me the first day (Sunday). I did better (Monday).

“I think I’m OK. I’m trying.”

RETIRING TYPE?

Paterno might have let his retirement plan slip out during practice this week, even though he just agreed to a three-year extension with Penn State through the 2011 season.

“Hey, by the time we get (a playoff), I won’t be in it, because I think the BCS just signed a new contract, didn’t they?” said Paterno, who is closing out his 43rd season as Penn State head coach.

The BCS did sign a new contract, through games of 2014. Will Paterno call it quits before that, then?

“Let’s see, that’s one, two three ,” Paterno said, pretending to count off the years. “I don’t know. I’m not making any commitment.”